by Patti Larsen
“I wish I knew what happened,” she said as I turned in slow circles, frowning, searching for the source of whatever was going on, only half listening to her. “I've driven the lake road a million times.”
A band of power suddenly snapped around the room, trapping me inside. I pushed against it, tested it. When I did, a flare of lavender magic answered.
Pressure built inside the room, pushing me down, trying to crush me. I drew Alison's echo to me while I formed a bubble of power around me and shoved back.
Surely the Dumonts weren't so desperate they would attack me openly?
The huge window at the far end of the room slid open and two familiar figures oozed through, one smirking and licking his lips, the other smiling at me like I might be good to eat.
I was wrong. They were that desperate.
***
Chapter Thirty Six
Yet again, I was unsurprised to find the brothers weren't alone. Ameline strolled in after them, looking around as if she was sizing the place up for herself. And, as usual, Mia trailed along behind her like a shadow.
“Where have you been, Syd?” Kristophe struck one of his model poses and cocked his head to the side, running his tongue over his lips. “We've been looking everywhere for you.”
Ah. I'd been starting to wonder why Batsheva was taking so long calling the Council back to order. Now I knew what she'd been waiting for.
“Here and there,” I said, trying for nonchalant despite the ghost now clinging to my arm.
Damn. Of all the terrible timing. If they found out about the necromancy, they could use it against me before Gram and Pender had a chance to release the echoes they carried.
But the Dumonts ignored my ghostly friend as if she was insignificant. It just proved to me further, they were morons.
Someone in a dark cloak hovered in the window. Even though I couldn't see a face, I knew it was the same person from the night before when we'd rescued Sebastian. Batsheva's spy didn't enter the room, but stayed just outside, watching.
I was surrounded by cowards.
Mind you, I was kicking myself for not telling Gram I'd been followed. What if the spy tracked us when we went below? I shook the worry off immediately. Gram would have known. In fact I was starting to think she'd somehow lured Pender down there with us.
She didn't leave anything to chance.
Jean Marc crossed his arms over his chest and stared at my cleavage. “I never quite understood what Quaid saw in you,” he said, “but I suppose your inferior looks are growing on me.”
Jerk. “How nice for you,” I said. “Too bad you were born to be disappointed by life.”
Heh.
He scowled at me, poor baby. Did I hurt his little feelings?
“Don't be idiots.” Ameline was used to dealing with the pair, obviously. She crossed the room to face me, ignoring Alison.
Which made me wonder. Could they see her? And if not, why not? Surely Ameline would have commented by now.
“Syd,” Alison whispered in my ear, “why is Pain here? And where's her Goth makeup?”
I didn't answer her, but kept my focus on Ameline. “Nice of you to drop by.” We really had to stop having these oh-so-casual conversations right before trying to take each other apart.
“Wouldn't have missed it.” Ameline's icy eyes were soulless. “You do understand what this means? I almost had you once. And this time I'll succeed.”
I shrugged. “Now I know how big of a cheater you are,” I said, “I'm prepared.”
She laughed. “It's not cheating when you win.”
“So you say.” I pretended to yawn, pulling my power inward, using the precious moments to reinforce my shields. “You know, this is really very predictable of Batsheva and Odette.”
Annoyance flickered in her eyes. “Who says this has anything to do with them?”
I rolled my eyes at her and tipped my chin toward the spy.
“Oh please,” I said at my most condescending, “like you could pull this off on your own. Whatever.”
She did not like my prodding, not even a little bit.
“Your power is mine,” she hissed right in my face at the same moment she attacked me.
I was ready for her, as ready as I could be, but she wasn't prepared, because neither of us expected what came next.
The moment her magic struck me, the vampire virus reacted with joy, reaching for the magic and sucking it inside its prison. I realized then Dad built the marble to hold the virus in, not to keep power out.
Ameline shrieked at the top of her lungs and jerked free, but only because I didn't act in time to allow the glowing gem to suck her dry. I would have happily sat back and let it happen, I was just too slow.
Damn it.
She shuddered as she fell back, staring at her hands. They appeared withered, aged beyond her years. The flesh began to fill out again slowly as she held them before her eyes, absolute horror on her face.
“What have you done to me?” Ameline's voice rose to a wail.
Satisfaction flooded my heart as I smiled in her face and winked.
The spy ran, disappearing from my peripheral vision. Good, let him go and report back to Batsheva. Let her be terrified of me.
That would be awesome.
Something impacted the shield the Dumonts erected around the room, shattering it inward. I let my own bubble of power collapse as four Enforcers stormed the room followed by a furious Charlotte.
“What is going on here?” The lead Enforcer was a Dumont, plain and simple. He looked angry, but not at me. Ameline scowled and shoved him off when he tried to pull her away.
“Hear me, Sydlynn Hayle,” she snarled. “When I take control of the Dumont coven, I'm coming for you. I will tear your heart out and eat it while you watch before I strip your family magic. Only then will I allow you to die.”
I glanced at the gathered Enforcers, keeping my tone light.
“Arrest her,” I said.
None of them moved.
“She just threatened me and another coven leader,” I said, looking from face to stony face.
Still nothing.
“I see,” I said. “Nice to know the Enforcer order is so full of honesty and integrity.”
“Watch your back.” Ameline spun and marched from the room, the brothers trailing behind her, glaring at me like I'd ruined their fun.
Mia paused one moment, looking hesitant, but when I reached out to her she fled.
“You are to stay in your room,” the Dumont Enforcer said. “Until your presence is required.”
I was done with being bullied. I played Ameline's game, no problem. But no low ranking Dumont in Enforcer's clothing was going to tell me what to do.
“Get the hell out of my way,” I snarled, my anger swift and raging as my demon fought me for control, no longer able to hold back my frustration.
To their credit, they did.
It wasn't until I was marching, still furious, down the hall on a mission to nowhere I realized Alison was no longer beside me. Had she moved on? Maybe. Or was hiding. Either way, I had to leave her to her own devices.
Charlotte's anger simmered below the surface, but I knew she was as furious as I was.
“So now we know,” she said softly.
“The Enforcers will do nothing to protect us when Batsheva and Odette act,” I said. “Now we know.”
I stopped short, the sudden need to see my mother so overpowering I almost sobbed.
“Come on.” I led Charlotte to the nearest Enforcer. I didn't recognize his features as Dumont, but that didn't mean anything so I put on my bitch face and hoped. “You,” I said, “take me to Miriam Hayle.”
He hesitated, glancing around.
“Did you hear me?” I snapped the words like whips. “I am a coven leader. I have the right to speak with the accused. You will take me to see her now.”
I guess I convinced him because he nodded sharply and turned, heading back the way I'd come.
“Are
you sure this is a good idea?” Charlotte's eyes were everywhere as we passed a group of Enforcers lounging around and laughing. Yeah, the order had fallen far.
“I doubt it,” I said. “But I'm going anyway.”
She huffed a breath, but didn't argue further.
Smart weregirl.
***
Chapter Thirty Seven
Down we went again, this time taking the same stairs as I'd used to locate the vampire's new resting place. Only this time, when we hit the bottom, the Enforcer led me through the first door on the right. I stared down the corridor at the guarded entrance to the vampire's lair, but only two more black-robed witches met my gaze.
Night time, right. The vampires were already gone.
The door didn't make a sound, and I found myself holding my breath in the stillness of the hallway. Just the soft tread of our feet on the thick carpet broke the quiet.
Two more Enforcers waited at the end of the hall, outside an iron door. My guide came to a halt before them, suddenly less sure of himself if his tone was any indication.
“The Hayle coven leader,” he said. “To see... the Hayle coven leader.”
Snicker.
It would have been funny, really, his confused tone, if this wasn't so freaking serious.
One of the guards looked me up and down like he wasn't sure I was legit. Hello temper flare. Before he could say a word I physically shoved my guide aside and got all up in the Enforcer's skeptical face.
“Open the damned door,” I said sweetly, “or I'll open it for you.”
No arguments. Maybe they were learning, these Dumont Enforcer imposters.
Don't mess with a Hayle witch, ever.
I left Charlotte in the hall with the three black robes and slipped inside the moment the door swung open. I shoved it shut behind me, pressing my back to it with a sigh as the scent of lilacs grew stronger.
Yes, I wore Mom's clothes, her perfume. But there was just nothing like the real thing.
She was smiling at me from where she sat on a low settee, reading a book. Was that a romance novel? Mom was in the fight of her life and she was reading chick lit. Seriously.
She stood in a flowing motion, gestured to me. There was no way I could resist her, not even if I hadn't come just to see her in the first place.
Her hug was like a warm fire after a cold winter's day and the familiar scent of her told me I was only a weak copy of the real thing.
“Mom,” I whispered in her hair, choking up. “Are you okay?”
She drew me toward the seat, sitting me down next to her, stroking a stray lock out of my face. Her smile was warm, not a trace of fake coven leader in it and helped me relax.
If Mom wasn't worried, I wasn't worried.
“Syd,” she said, eyes sparkling in delight, “you look wonderful.”
I snorted, couldn't help it. “You finally managed to make me into you.”
“I'll have to arrange to have myself arrested more often.” Her fingertips slid over my cheek. I'd always taken her for granted, how tactile she was, and only realized then how much I missed having her around. Not only because I loved my mother, but because her simple, frequent physical contact renewed our bond every time she touched me.
“Gram's here.” I whispered. Mom nodded, still smiling.
“Yes,” she said, “I assumed she would be.”
“We have a plan.” Mom's hands tightened on mine and I knew I had to keep quiet. Surely we were being watched. Just like me to blurt out our only means of saving her in earshot of those who would use such knowledge against us.
“Sydlynn,” Mom gripped my face between her hands, lips pressing to my cheek, “I love you and your sister more than my own life. But I am a witch, a coven leader, and my honor is my soul. No matter the circumstances or the opposition, I must continue. You know that, don't you?”
“No,” I said. “Not when the deck is stacked with Dumonts and Batsheva is influencing the Council and every witch here.”
Mom sighed. “I assumed as much. About Batsheva, that is. She's learned much since we last met.”
“So no matter what,” I countered, “you're guilty. They will do everything they can to see you dead.”
Mom shook her head. “Batsheva doesn't want my death. Just my power.”
“Odette's a different story.” Mom's fingers tightened as I spoke. “Mom, I won't lose you because you refused to defend yourself in a mock trial loaded against our coven.”
She sighed. “I can't break the law, Syd,” she said. “I won't. And darling, we both know I'm guilty.”
Mom did not say that out loud. “No, you're not.”
It was like I hadn't spoken. She just went on, digging herself deeper. “When I found Harry like that, I panicked, Syd. I hid the knife, cleaned up the blood. Ordered the family magic to eliminate all trace of what he'd done.” She met my eyes again, hers sad but resigned. “And while the family accepted his innocence because of his race, I was complicit to his act. I tried to cover it up and for that I will always feel regret.”
“Mom,” I tugged on her hands, snapping her out of it. “Listen to me. There's a lot you don't know about blood magic.” I swallowed past the words, my stomach unhappy even with me saying them. “The history of it.”
Mom smiled. “I'm well aware of our history.”
“Are you?” I pulled away from her, stood up, paced. “You know that witches aren't permitted to use blood magic not because it's an abomination like we're taught, but because we were spelled into believing it—by use of blood magic?”
Mom flinched like I slapped her. “Nonsense,” she said. “Who have you been talking to?”
I thought of Liam but knew we didn't have the luxury to go into it now. “It's a discussion for another time.” I sank down next to her again. “Just please, believe me. You've done nothing wrong. The law isn't even ours. It came from the church, the same church who set the inquisition after us.”
A flicker of hesitation passed over her face. “Syd, you're certain?”
I nodded quickly, wishing Liam was here. “Did you never talk to Dad about it?”
“There was never reason to.” Mom bit her lower lip, eyes narrowing. Finally, she sighed again and shrugged. “It doesn't matter, sweetheart. It's still against the law. And I'm still guilty.”
No way she was giving up. “So that's it then? You're quitting?”
Anger flashed in her eyes. “Of course not,” she said. “But listen to me. You're right about the Dumonts, about Batsheva. Our Council is no longer trustworthy, nor the order of Enforcers who uphold our laws. This trial is a joke, a fraud. But for the final charge, we know everything they have said is false.”
“Then why go through with it?” I just didn't understand. “Honestly, Mom. You might be guilty, okay, of loving Dad and wanting to protect him. But you didn't use blood magic. You had no idea Dad was going to try it. So why punish yourself for being an accessory after the fact?” Law class kicked in. “There's no way it should be a death sentence. Or mean the loss of your power.”
Mom pulled away from me, arms hugging herself. “And yet, if I don't obey the law, I'm as bad as they are.” She turned back, face twisted in frustration and guilt. “I won't be like them, Syd. I obey the law. And maybe standing my ground is what it will take for the others to realize what's happening.”
“Or maybe you'll die at the stake with your family stripped of their magic and Batsheva will have won.” I shook my head, angry tears rising in my eyes. “You can't win this way.”
“I don't know how else to fight.” She sagged a little. “I must remain, as always, a leader. Guiding by example. Syd,” she came to my side and pulled me up next to her, face intent, “if this ends badly, you are to take control of the family magic. Under no circumstances are you to release it to Batsheva.”
“So you want me to break the law and that's okay?” I shook my head. “Make up your mind, Mom.”
She let out a cry, soft and angry. “I have faith in you,
” she whispered.
I glanced up quickly, met her eyes. Hers were calm, steady.
Damn her. She was leaving this up to me?
“I love you,” she said, kissing my cheek. “But you need to go.”
I felt the tug of magic, calling me to conclave. But how could I leave her?
“Syd,” she said, “it's okay, sweetheart. You're doing it right.”
Okay then. Message received. She wouldn't act, needed to play her part. But I was free, with Gram, to do whatever it took.
Talk about a double standard.
My mother was all kinds of frustrating.
As I retreated back down the hall, shoving past the Enforcer who'd led me to Mom in the first place, I felt my temper flare all over again. She'd done this to me once before, when I'd lost my power to Demitrius Strong and the Chosen of the Light. By refusing to act, she'd forced me into finding my missing demon myself and, in doing so, helped me free myself from Gram's power and save us all from the Wild Hunt.
Well... maybe she knew what she was about after all.
When I found myself in my seat, listening to Sebastian's testimony, I shut out everyone and everything. We'd lost. That much was clear. Nothing the vampire leader said could clear Mom of the blood magic charges. No one could do that.
It sucked to know there was no way we could win by playing by the rules.
So if our opponents chose to cheat...
We cheat too. Gram's voice was in my mind, soft and strained, but there. We just make sure we do a better job of it.
I just hoped the echoes of the past she and Pender held onto would be enough to topple this Council of cards once and for all.
***
Chapter Thirty Eight
It was almost dawn by the time Sebastian finished speaking and left the room to return to his casket. I found myself yawning and rubbing my eyes, sure I now had mascara and eye shadow everywhere, but not really caring.
The others looked as weary as I did, so at least I wasn't doing the frazzled thing alone. As the Council filed out, I heard the gathered witches whispering.
